124 



PRESENT STATUS OP THE INDUSTRY. 



thickly to take the place of lath, and I think that during 

 a heavy fall of snow the roof might be crushed in. 



"Concerning the preparation of the soil, too much 

 work cannot be put on it in the way of enriching it 

 [look out for too much nitrogen] and adding such 

 things as will tend to keep the soil loose and of the 

 same texture as the top soil is in the woods. I have 

 found that the ginseng develops its fibrous roots in the 

 direction in which the most nutriment lies; the main 

 roots will do the same. It is advisable to have the 

 soil richer at the bottom than at the top so as to produce 



FIG 23. CORNER IN HARLAN P. KELSEY's GINSENG NURSERY 



a good, straight tap root and less side roots. I have 

 found that the plants will send their fibrous roots 

 straight up if the soil be very rich and moist on the 

 surface. 



"It is a good idea to watch the beds to see that mice 

 do not work underneath the covering- in the seed beds 



